Paint roller coating apparatus



March 5, 1963 E. E. RASMUSQSEN PAINT ROLLER comm; APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1959 Ed -ar-ERa sm ussen IN VEN TOR.

3,079,625 PAHNT RQLLER COATING APPARATUS Edgar E. Rasmussen, 4950 SW. Barbur Blvd Portland 1, Greg. Filed Mar. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 801,293 Claims. (Cl. 15-25106) This invention pertains to paint applicators, and relates particularly to apparatus for applying a uniform coating of paint to a paint applicator of the roller type.

The substitution of paint rollers for paint brushes in the application of paint to walls and other surfaces, is being made in ever increasing numbers as paint formulations progressively improve. The general mode of operation of such paint rollers involves the dipping of the roller into a quantity of paint contained in a paint tray, and then rotating the roller over an inclined surface of the tray above the level of paint, to distribute the paint about the circumference of the roller. This procedure is not completely satisfactory, since it does not efiect uniform coating of the paint roller with a quantity of paint, and thus the irregularity of such coating is transferred to the surface being painted.

it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and simplified apparatus by which to achieve uniform coating of a paint roller with a quantity of paint,

thereby achieving uniform transfer of paint to the surface being painted.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a paint roller coating apparatus which llS readily adapted for use with a conventional paint roller tray.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provision of a paint roller coating apparatus which includes a minimum number of parts all of which are readily accessible for cleansing. v l

A further important object of this invention is to pro vide a paint roller coating apparatus which is of simplitied construction for economical manufacture and which is operable with maximum facility to apply a uniform coating of paint to a paint roller.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paint roller coating apparatus embodying features of this invention, the same being shown in association with a conventional paint roller and tray, the roller and tray being illustrated in dash lines; and

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

The conventional form of paint roller illustrated in the drawing includes a fabric covered roller 16 mounted for rotation on the elongated shaft section 12 of a rod which is bent intermediate its ends to provide, in addition to said shaft section, an elongated handle section 14 which projects substantially normal to the shaft section on a line substantially midway the ends of the roller. 'Ihe terminal end of the handle section is provided with a hand grip 16 to facilitate manipulation of the roller.

The paint roller normally is used in association with a paint tray which includes a bottom 18 upstanding side walls 26 and 22, front wall 24 and rear wall 26. The forward portion 18 of the bottom slopes upwardly from the rearward portion, the front end of the tray being supported by a depending bracket 28.

In the normal use of the conventional roller and tray, a quantity of paint is dispensed into the tray so that a major portion of the inclined forward portion 18' of the bottom is above the paint level. The roller 10 is dipped into the paint and then rolled in a reciprocative motion over the inclined surface of the bottom which is 7 tray.

above the paint level, thus tending to distribute the paint more evenly over the surface of the roller. The roller then is transferred to the surface to be painted.

The paint roller coating apparatus of the present invention may be integrated with or used in detachable connection with any form of tray capable of containing a quantity of paint, the particular tray illustrated being shown merely for purposes of description. In the embodiment illustrated, the apparatus includes a pair of laterally spaced frame members 30, 32 arranged to receive between them a pair of rolls. The forward applicator roll 34 is mounted rotatably on a shaft 36, the reduced ends of which extend through aligned openings in the frame members and are peened or riveted over at their outer ends for securing the frame members firmly to the shaft. The rearward leveling roll 38 is mounted on a shaft 40 for rotation therewith, the shaft extending through aligned openings in the frame members. One end of the shaft is extended from the adjacent frame member 30 and is bent in an offset manner to form a hand crank 42 by which to effect manual rotation of the roll 38.

Although the rolls 34, 38 may be integrated permanently with the paint tray, it is preferred that they be removable from the tray for ease of cleaning and for use with trays of diverse types. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated provides means by which the coating apparatus is mounted removably on a paint tray. This means comprises aligned depressions or notches 44 adjacent the rearward end of the frame members, adapted to receive therein the beaded upper edge of the rear wall 26 of the .paint tray. In this manner the coating apparatus is mounted upon the tray and stabilized against displacement during man pulation of the hand crank.

The forward end of the frame members extends into the tray and rests upon the bottom of the latter. In this manner the applicator roll 34 dips into the paint contained in the tray and the leveling roll 38 is elevated above the level of paint, with the crank end of the shaft extending outwardly over the upper edge of the side wall 20 of the Means is provided for elevating the applicator roll 34 slightly above the bottom of the tray, to permit its unrestricted rotation. In the embodiment illustrated, this is members so that they extend downward slightly beyond 'the circumference of the roll.

The operation of the coating apparatus described hereinbefore, is as follows: The apparatus is mounted on a paint tray, with the notches 44 engaging the rim of the tray and the forward ends of the frame members resting upon the bottom of the tray with a portion of the applicator roll 34 immersed in a quantity of paint 46 contained within the tray. The paint roller 10 is positioned above and in contact with both rolls 34 and 38, and the hand crank 42 then manipulated to rotate the leveling roll 38 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Because of the physical contact between the rolls 34, 38 and the paint roller 10, rotation of the leveling roll causes simultaneous rotation of the paint roller in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow, and such rotation of the paint roller causes simultaneous rotation of the applicator roll in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow.

As the applicator roll 34 is caused to rotate, it picks up and carries on its surface a quantity of paint in which it is immersed, and transfers said quantity of paint to the surface of the paint roller 10. As the paint roller continues to rotate, its paint carrying surface engages the leveling roll 38, whereupon the excess paint is removed from the paint roller and returned by gravity to the paint supply within the tray. In this manner there is applied to the surface of the paint roller 10 a uniform coating 3 of paint which then may be transferred to a surface to be painted.

From the foregoingit is believed to be apparent that the present invention provides for the application of a uniform coating of paint to a conventional paint roller, by means which is of extremely simplified construction for economical manufacture, which is 'readily'adapted'for use with conventional paint trays and rollers, which requires a minimum of maintenance and repair, and is easily cleaned after use.

Various modifications and changes in the details of construction described hereinbefore may be made, as desired. For example, the hand crank 42 may be replaced by an electric motor, controlled by a switchiin'itselectric circuit. The applicator roll 3% may be the directly driven roll, and the leveling roll 38 replaced with a doctor blade. The roll and frame assembly mayjbe arranged with the applicator roll 34 adjacent] the rear wall 26 of the tray, as by offsetting theoppositeend of the frame members outwardly for mounting the grooves 44 on the side walls of the'tray. Any of these and other modifications may be incorporated in the frame assembly illustrated, or may be integrated with aspeoially constructed tray for permanent or detachable mounting. In any event, it is important that the coating'assembly be arranged for use with a separate paint roller 10, such as the conventional roller and handle assembly illustrated, so that the ultimate transfer of'paint to a surface may be "made simply by conventional manipulation'of thepaint roller per se. 7 a

The'foregoing and other modifications and changes may be'made without departing' from the spirit of this invention'and the scope of the appended claims. I M I Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is: 7

1. A paint roller coating apparatus, comprising a paint tray' having a'peripheral wall defininga paint reservoir,

a paint applicator roll mounted for rotation onthe tray above the bottom of the latter for contact with paint conjtained within the tray, a leveling rollv mounted on the tray above the paint level of the tray and spaced fromthe applicator roll for supporting between them and above 'the paint level of'the tray, a paint roller to be coated, said leveling roll being disposcddirectly above thejpaint reservoin'and drive means engaging'one of the leveling and applicator rolls and projecting laterally beyond the peripheral wall of the paint tray, rotation of the roll engaged by the drive meanscausing' simultaneous rotation of the other roll through'the interengaging paint roller positioned freely against said rolls, the leveling roll serving to remove excess paint from the paint roller and to return said excess paint by gravity to the paint supply in the tray reservoir.

2. A paint roller coating apparatus for use with a paint tray having a peripheral wall, the apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted for mounting within a tray, a paint applicator roll mounted for rotation on the frame adjacent one end of the latter and arranged for positioning within the tray above the bottom of the latter for contact withpaint contained within the tray, a leveling roll mounted on the frame adjacent the end opposite the applicator roll and arranged 'for positioning within the tray above the paint level of the tray, the leveling roll being spaced from'the applicator roll for supporting between themand above the paint level of the tray a paint roller to be coated, and drive means engaging the leveling roll and 'adapt ed'to project laterally beyond the peripheral wall of'the paint tray, rotation of the leveling roll causing simnltaneous'rotation of the paint applicator roll through the'interengaging paint roller positioned freely against 'said rolls, the leveling roll serving to remove excess paint :from the paint'roller and adapted to return said excess paint to the paint supply in the tray. 7

'3. The apparatus of claim'2 including means on the frame for mounting the latter adjacent the leveling roll "end on the wall of a tray with the opposite end of the frame extending into the tray. a

4.The" apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drive'means comprises acrank on the leveling roll. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 including means on the frame for mounting the latter adjacent the leveling roll end on the wall of a tray with the opposite end of the frame extending into the tray and wherein the drive means comprises a crank on the leveling roll.

References Cited'in the'file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,801 Opp Aug. 11, 1903 979,300 Hill Dec. 20, 1910 2,291,991 HSprak'er' Aug. 4, 1942 2,526,542 Davies Oct. 17, 1950 "2,747,208 Schafer May 29, 1956 2,773,274 Beech Dec. 11, 1956 "2,813,292 McLendon Nov. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS "1,069,233 France Feb.'l0, 1954 1,110,077 France Oct-5, 1955 

1. A PAINT ROLLER COATING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A PAINT TRAY HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL DEFINING A PAINT RESERVOIR, A PAINT APPLICATOR ROLL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON THE TRAY ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE LATTER FOR CONTACT WITH PAINT CONTAINED WITHIN THE TRAY, A LEVELING ROLL MOUNTED ON THE TRAY ABOVE THE PAINT LEVEL OF THE TRAY AND SPACED FROM THE APPLICATOR ROLL FOR SUPPORTING BETWEEN THEM AND ABOVE THE PAINT LEVEL OF THE TRAY, A PAINT ROLLER TO BE COATED, SAID LEVELING ROLL BEING DISPOSED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE PAINT RESERVOIR, AND DRIVE MEANS ENGAGING ONE OF THE LEVELING AND APPLICATOR ROLLS AND PROJECTING LATERALLY BEYOND THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE PAINT TRAY, ROTATION OF THE ROLL ENGAGED BY THE DRIVE MEANS CAUSING SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION OF THE OTHER ROLL THROUGH THE INTERENGAGING PAINT ROLLER POSITIONED FREELY AGAINST SAID ROLLS, THE LEVELING ROLL SERVING TO REMOVE EXCESS PAINT FROM THE PAINT ROLLER AND TO RETURN SAID EXCESS PAINT BY GRAVITY TO THE PAINT SUPPLY IN THE TRAY RESERVOIR. 